Invasion Watch, one of the new stories this tim around, is the first part of a three-instalment story featuring the men of Britain’s Home Guard, many of whom had epic tales of previous wars to relate. Warriors! looks at the strange relationships which exist between apparent enemies. And both are cracking stories to boot.
Commando 4459: Invasion Watch
Script: Mac MacDonald Art: Carlos Pino Cover: Carlos Pino
In the early days of the Second World War, men too young, too old or too infirm for the regular services flocked to join Britain's Home Guard to do their bit. Because of this, the units were dismissed as a bit of a joke in some quarters.
If those nay-sayers had listened to the conversation in one Home Guard headquarters on a night in 1940, though, they might have changed their minds. For as the men there shared their stories it became very clear that they had fought, and would fight again. And fight like the demons they were.
Invaders beware!
Commando 4460: Warriors!Script: Mac MacDonald Art: Keith Page Cover: Keith Page
Fighting men come in all shapes and sizes. They wear different uniforms and follow different flags. But the best of them share one quality. And that one quality marks them out from everyone else as men to be feared and respected in equal measure.
That's the quality that marks them out as...
Warriors!
Commando 4461: Upside Down AceOriginally Commando No 572 (August 1971), re-issued as No 1604 (May 1982)
Script: Brunt Art: John Ridgway Cover: Ian Kennedy
Alan Burnett and Colin Harvey flew as the crew of a Boulton Paul Defiant night fighter. They shared the same room and spent almost every second of every day with each otheryet the very air around them seemed to vibrate with the fierce hate they had for each other.
But, despite their bickering and brawling, they had the highest score of kills in the Group. How they kept it up was their own special secret!
"The Boulton Paul Defiant was one of many planes which didn't quite live up to their designers' hopes," notes Commando Editor Calum Laird in his introduction to this reprint issue. "But you'd never guess that from Ian Kennedy's dynamic cover where, as only he can, he turns the world on its head to create another perfect composition.
"Inside, John Ridgway - in only his second Commando outing - delivers an ideal complement to the cover, his crisp, accurate linework being perfect for aircraft illustration. Being a trained draughtsman is quite an asset.
"The script, by Brunt, gives them him full rein to tell the Defiant's story while at the same time touching on some of the super-secret 'boffins' war' that went on behind the action in the Second World War."
Commando No 4462: Death Of A WimpeyOriginally Commando No 469 (April 1970), re-issued as No 1335 (July 1979)
Script: Ken Gentry Art: Cam Kennedy Cover: Ian Kennedy
They found an abandoned plane in the desert, sand almost covering it. The paint was hanging off in shreds, the engines had seen better days and the fuselage was riddled with bullet holes. But it was still a Vickers Wellington bomber - one of the tough, famous Wimpeys. And it could fly - just.
So the men who found it, three army deserters and a no-good R.A.F. pilot, began to make plans to get back into the war - flying their own private bomber!
"At the end of October last year at the Dundee Comics Day, two men were honoured for their outstanding contribution to the comics artform," notes Calum. "Though they are not related, they share the same surname and, as you can see from this book, they have both worked for Commando.
"I'm talking, of course, about the two Kennedys, Cam and Ian who together have produced the art for this tale. Ian's cover wonderfully captures a stricken Wellington bomber trying desperately to land, while the characterisation and movement Cam brings to the inside art is outstanding.
"...And let's not forget scriptwriter Ken Gentry without whose contribution this classic Commando story the two Kennedys would never have had the chance to showcase their talents so well.
"By the way, I got to present the awards - how cool is that?"
• The Draw Your Weapons exhibition featuring art from Commando continues at the National Army Museum in London this month and runs until 30th April 2012. For the latest information visit: www.nam.ac.uk/exhibitions/special-displays/draw-your-weapons-art-commando-comics
• Official Commando web site: http://www.commandocomics.com/• Commando Official Facebook page
• Click here for subscription information or write to: D.C. Thomson & Co Ltd, The Subscribers Department, Commando Library, 80 Kingsway East, Dundee DD4 8SL or Freephone (UK only) 0800 318846
• Commando is also available for iPad and iPhone. The apps are free to download through the Apple iTunes App Store and a digital subscription is priced at £4.99 per month, compared to a £99 annual print subscription. For those not sure there are four free issues to download prior to making a purchase.
• Commando Comics iPhone App on iTunes
• Commando Comics iPad App on iTunes
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